Smoking Article and Method for Manufacturing a Smoking Article

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a smoking article having a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis running through respective base areas of a distal end and a mouth end of the smoking article. The smoking article segments are at least in part wrapped in a circumferential wrapper and arranged subsequently in from the distal to the mouth end as follows:a. a tobacco segment comprising tobacco or tobacco derived smokable material,b. a cooling segment having a first flow path from the tobacco segment to a filter segment,c. the filter segment comprising a second flow path from the cooling segment to the mouth end.The filter segment comprises a tobacco product including tobacco particles having an average particle size of 30 μm and a dispersion medium for dispersing the tobacco particles. The invention also comprises a method for manufacturing such a smoking article.

The invention relates to a smoking article, preferably a heat-not-burnproduct, comprising an improved taste.

In a heat-not-burn product, the tobacco or tobacco derived smokablematerial comprised in a tobacco segment is heated with an electricalheat source. The tobacco or tobacco derived smokable material ispreferably heated up to 250° C. At these temperatures, the materialevaporates a smokable aerosol which may then be inhaled by a user.However, in comparison to regular cigarettes, a heat-not-burn productstill comprises taste deficits. It is therefore the objective of theinvention to provide a heat-not-burn product with an improved taste.

This objective is reached by a smoking article comprising a cylindricalshape with a longitudinal axis running through respective base areas ofa distal end and a mouth end of the smoking article, wherein the smokingarticle comprises the following segments, which are arrangedsubsequently the following order from the distal to the mouth end, andare at least in part wrapped in a circumferential wrapper:

-   -   a tobacco segment comprising tobacco or tobacco derived smokable        material,    -   a cooling segment having a first flow path from the tobacco        segment from the filter segment,    -   a filter segment comprising a second flow path from the cooling        segment to the mouth end, characterized in that the filter        segment comprises a tobacco product, comprising tobacco        particles having an average particle size of 30 micrometer and a        dispersion medium for dispersing the tobacco particles.

The filter segment is arranged at the mouth end of the smoking article.With a tobacco product the flavor of the aerosol generated from thesmoking article can be improved. The aerosol generated from the tobaccosegment mainly consists of glycol residual water, vapor, air, and flavorcomponents including nicotine. The aerosol is then passed through acooling segment in which the aerosol temperature is cooled down forinhalation by the user. The aerosol then passes the filter segment whichcomprises the tobacco product. The aerosol will interact with thetobacco product and release and pick up the tobacco flavor from thetobacco particles contained in the tobacco product. This additionaltobacco flavoring improves the taste experience yielded from the smokingarticle drastically. By positioning the tobacco product in the filtersegment, production flexibility is maintained. It is for exampledconceivable to equip the same tobacco segment and cooling segment withdiffering filter segments comprising different tobacco productconcentrations, amounts or even with filter segments without any tobaccoproduct, if it is desired to produce other smoking articles aside fromthis invention on the very same machinery.

By using tobacco particles, having an average particle size of 30micrometers in the tobacco product, an optimal taste delivery to theaerosol is achieved. It has been found, that with the average particlesize of 30 micrometers, the taste delivery to the aerosol is optimized.The particles are comparably small enough to provide a large surfacearea for effective interaction of the aerosol with the tobaccoparticles. On the other hand, the particles are large enough to bemaintained in the filter and not be carried away by the aerosol stream.With the average particle size of 30 micrometer, it is possible tocontain the tobacco particles in the filter segment already when using astandard filter, preferably a monoacetate filter section. Therefore, noadditional confinement of the tobacco particles in the filter segment isnecessary.

The tobacco particles are dispersed in a dispersion medium. Thedispersion medium preferably comprises water, monovalent alcohols,polyvalent alcohols, sugar alcohols, sugars and/or polyvalent alcoholesters. The term polyvalent alcohols includes (among others) glyceroland propylene glycol. The dispersion medium together with the tobaccoparticles forms a liquid or paste-like tobacco product before thetobacco product is arranged in the filter segment. The dispersion mediumcontent in the tobacco product may be reduced due to drying after thetobacco product is arranged in the filter segment.

According to another embodiment, at least one part of the filter segmentcomprises the shape of a hollow cylinder having an inner lateral areaincluding a through-hole, through which the second flow path isarranged, wherein the second flow path is also parallel to thelongitudinal axis, and wherein the inner lateral area is at least inpart coated with the tobacco product.

In this embodiment the tobacco product on at least a part of the innerlateral area is in direct contact with a second flow path. In this way,a superior interaction between the aerosol streaming along the flow pathwith the tobacco product arranged on the inner lateral area is achieved.The tobacco product is preferably coated on only a part of the innerlateral area of the through hole of the at least one part of the filtersegment. This means that there are also other parts of the inner lateralarea which remain uncoated by the tobacco product. It is alsoconceivable that the tobacco product is arranged on at least a part ofthe inner lateral area in a grated manner and/or in a pattern. In thiscontext grated manner means that the tobacco particle concentration perarea unit on the inner lateral area changes along the longitudinal axis.This enables further possibilities to modify and improve the tasteprofile of the smoking article.

According to another embodiment between the inner lateral area and thetobacco product, a bonding agent is arranged. The bonding agent improvesthe adherence of the tobacco product to the inner lateral area of thefilter segment.

In addition or in alternative to the bonding agent, it is also possibleto arrange the tobacco product on an additional medium, preferably apaper, and then arrange the additional medium carrying the tobaccoproduct on the inner lateral area of the hollow cylinder part of thefilter segment.

According to another embodiment, at least one part of the filter segmentis a filter rod having an inner volume, wherein the tobacco product isarranged in the inner volume of the filter rod. In this case the atleast one part of the filter segment is a cylindrically shaped filterrod. Such a filter rod is very similar to a normal standard cigarettefilter rod. By having the tobacco product distributed in the innervolume of the filter rod a very effective interaction of the aerosol andthe tobacco product is possible. In particular, the aerosol flow path isdistributed through the whole inner volume of the filter segment. Bydistributing the tobacco product in the inner volume of the filtersegment, the aerosol can circulate around the tobacco particlescontained in the tobacco product. Preferably, the tobacco product isdistributed in the material of the filter segment in a homogeneous way.In this way, the tobacco product is arranged within the material of atleast one part of the filter segment.

According to another embodiment, the tobacco product is uniformlydistributed within at least one cylindrically shaped section of thefilter rod, having the same diameter as the filter rod. With thisuniform distribution within the material of the filter rod, thepreviously described circling of the aerosol around the tobaccoparticles contained in the tobacco product is possible. The tobaccoproduct is preferably contained only in at least one cylindricallyshaped section of the filter rod. This implies that there is anothersection of the filter rod in which no tobacco product is distributed. Bychoosing the size of the at least one cylindrically shaped sectioncomprising the tobacco product the intensity of flavor delivered to theaerosol from the tobacco product can be selected.

According to another embodiment, a second cylindrically shaped sectionof the filter rod, not comprising the tobacco product and also havingthe same diameter as the filter rod, is arranged between the firstsection which comprises the tobacco product and the mouth end of thesmoking article. The tobacco particles comprised in the tobacco productwill give the filter section, in which it is contained, a certaincoloring. Such coloring may not be preferred by the consumers. It istherefore advantageous to arrange a second cylindrically shaped sectionof the filter rod, which does not comprise the tobacco product, directlyat the mouth end of the smoking article. In this way the secondcylindrically shaped section is not colored by the tobacco product butmaintains its clean optical impression. By arranging this secondcylindrically shaped section with the clean visual impression directlyat the mouth end and with the second cylindrically shaped section havingthe same diameter as the filter rod, the consumer can only see thesecond cylindrically shaped section, whereas the first section comprisesthe tobacco product and therefore the colored section is hidden from theconsumers view.

According to another embodiment at least one part of the filter segmentis a filter rod having an inner volume, wherein at least one threadcomprising the tobacco product is arranged in the inner volume of afirst cylindrically shaped section of the filter rod, wherein the firstcylindrically shaped section has the same diameter as the filter rod.The at least one thread comprising the tobacco product is preferablyembedded in the material of the at least one part of the filter segment.It is also conceivable to use more than one thread in the at least onepart of the filter segment. By increasing the number of threadscomprising the tobacco product, the intensity of the flavor impact ofthe tobacco product in the aerosol can be adjusted. The threadcomprising the tobacco product is preferably suitable for use with themuch cooler aerosol of a heat-not-burn product in comparison to aconventional cigarette. This is achieved by the temperature dependentvolatility of the flavor of the tobacco product. The desired flavor isreleased from the tobacco product at temperatures below the temperatureof the aerosol in the second flow path of the filter segment.Preferably, the flavor of the tobacco product is non-volatile at roomtemperature. In this way, the flavor is only released during the use ofthe smoking article and does not diminish during storage of the smokingarticle before its actual use.

According to another embodiment, a second cylindrically shaped sectionof the filter rod not comprising the thread and also having the samediameter as the filter rod is arranged between the first section, whichcomprises the thread, and a mouth end of the smoking article. Thetobacco product will color the threads in a dark color. When embedded inthe first section of the filter rod, the ends of the threads may bevisible at the end of the first section of the filter rod. With thesecond cylindrically shaped section arranged between the first sectionand the mouth end of the smoking article, a clean and pristine opticalappearance of the filter section can be achieved. With the secondcylindrically shaped section having the same diameter as the filter rod,only this second cylindrically shaped section is visible for theconsumer at the mouth end. In this way, the potentially unpleasantoptical appearance of the thread is hidden from the consumers view. Thisembodiment also reduces flavor loss of the tobacco product duringstorage (before the actual use of the smoking article) because thethread is entirely confined in the smoking article with the tobaccosegment and/or the cooling segment on one side and the secondcylindrically shaped section of the filter rod on the other side and thefilter material of the first cylindrically shaped section surroundingthe threads circumferentially.

The objective of the invention is also reached by a method formanufacturing a smoking article, wherein a tobacco segment comprisingtobacco or tobacco derived smokable material, a cooling segmentcomprising a first flow path and a filter segment comprising a secondflow path are arranged in the given order subsequently on a longitudinalaxis, and are at least in a part wrapped in a circumferential wrapperthereby forming a smoking article having a cylindrical shape with alongitudinal axis running through respective base areas of the smokingarticle being a distal end, at which a tobacco segment is arranged, anda mouth end, at which the filter segment is arranged, respectively,wherein the first flow path connects the tobacco segment with the filtersegment and a second flow path connects the cooling segment with themouth end. The method is characterized in that before arranging thefilter segment next to the cooling segment, a tobacco product comprisingtobacco particles having an average particle size of 30 micrometers anda dispersion medium for dispersing the tobacco particles is arranged inthe filter segment.

In other words, the tobacco product is arranged in the filter segmentbefore the assembly of the smoking article. This may either be carriedout during the production of the filter segment or after the productionof the filter segment but before arranging the filter segment in thesmoking article. In this way, the manufacturing method remains fullyflexible whether a filter segment with or without the tobacco product isarranged in the smoking article. Also, standard manufacturing processes,preferably for heat-not-burn smoking articles, can be used tomanufacture the smoking article according to this invention, as theadditional processing step of arranging the tobacco product in thefilter segment is carried out in a separate step. This enables the mostcost-effective way of production of the smoking article according to theinvention.

According to another embodiment, at least one part of the filter segmentcomprises the shape of a hollow cylinder having an inner lateral area,wherein the tobacco product is arranged on at least a part of the innerlateral area by coating. Preferably, the tobacco product is coated ontothe inner lateral area during the manufacturing of the at least one partof the filter segment or after the manufacture of this part of thefilter segment. In the first alternative the material of the one part ofthe filter segment is preferably laid out flat and the surface of thematerial, later becoming the inner lateral area, is coated with thetobacco product. Afterwards, the coated material is shaped into theshape of a hollow cylinder, wherein the area, coated at least in partwith the tobacco product, forms the inner lateral area of the hollowcylinder. In the other alternative, the one part of the filter segmentcomprising the shape of the hollow cylinder is firstly manufactured andsecondly its inner lateral area is coated with the tobacco product.

According to another embodiment, before coating the inner lateral areawith a tobacco product, the filter segment is at least in part coatedwith a bonding agent. By a first coating the inner lateral area with thebonding agent and subsequently coating it with a tobacco product, thebonding agent is arranged between the inner lateral area surface and thetobacco product. Again, this can be carried out during production of thefilter segment itself or after the production of the filter segment butbefore assembly of the smoking article.

In addition or in alternative to the bonding agent, it is also possibleto arrange the tobacco product on an additional medium, preferably apaper, and then arrange the additional medium carrying the tobaccoproduct on the inner lateral area of the hollow cylinder part of thefilter segment. Preferably, the tobacco product is coated onto theadditional medium. This embodiment simplifies the arranging of thetobacco product on the inner lateral area of an already formed hollowcylinder part of the filter segment.

According to another embodiment, the tobacco product is arranged on thefilter material of at least a part of the filter segment by spraying,wherein the filter material is afterwards formed into the filtersegment, which is subsequently arranged next to the cooling segment. Inthis way, a uniform distribution of the tobacco product in the filtermaterial of at least a part of the filter segment is achieved. Thetobacco particle size of 30 micrometer is small enough to enable thespraying process. This is a very easy way to ensure the uniformdistribution of the tobacco product in the desired part of the filtersegment.

According to another embodiment, the tobacco product is arranged on athread, wherein the thread is then arranged on the filter material of atleast a part of the filter segment which is afterwards formed into thefilter segment which is subsequently arranged next to the coolingsegment. Preferably the thread comprising the tobacco product isarranged on the filter material by winding the filter material aroundthe thread. As an alternative, the filter material may be rolled aroundthe thread. In this way, it is very easy to arrange the threadcomprising the tobacco product in the filter material. The subsequentarranging of the filter segment next to the cooling segment is notaffected by the method of arranging the thread in the filter segment. Inthis way, the arranging of the filter segment next to the coolingsegment can be carried out with standard production machinery.

According to another embodiment, the tobacco product is arranged on thethread by soaking the thread in the liquid tobacco product. Before thetobacco product is arranged on any part of the smoking particle, thetobacco product according to the invention comprises a liquid form. Thisliquid form is generated by the dispersion medium for dispersing thetobacco particles comprised in the tobacco product. After applying thetobacco product to any surface of the smoking article, the tobaccoproduct may dry on the respective surface. During this process, thedispersion medium preferably partially evaporates. In other words, thismeans that before the tobacco product according to this invention isapplied to any surface of the smoking article, it comprises a higheramount of the dispersion medium than present in the finished smokingarticle. Beside the previously described methods of spraying or coatingmaterial with the liquid tobacco product, it is also possible to soakmaterial in the liquid tobacco product. This is the most advantageousversion for arranging the tobacco product on the thread. It is, forexample, conceivable that the thread is drawn through a bath comprisingthe liquid tobacco product when fed towards the production machinery inwhich the thread is arranged in the filter segment. In this way themachinery for arranging a thread in a filter segment does not have to bealtered for arranging a tobacco product. It also denotes a very simplemethod to arrange a tobacco product on a thread, which is therefore mostcost-effective.

According to another embodiment, the tobacco product is arranged on thethread by spraying the liquid tobacco product onto the thread. Thisembodiment is an alternative to the previously described embodiment.With the spraying technique, the amount of tobacco product arranged on aspecific length of the thread can be adapted according to productspecifications.

Further advantages, objectives and features of the present inventionwill be described, by way of example only, in the following descriptionwith reference to the appended figures. In the figures, like componentsand different embodiments can exhibit the same reference symbols.

The figures show:

FIG. 1 a general view of the smoking article 1;

FIG. 2 a detailed view of one embodiment of the filter segment 9;

FIG. 3 a detailed view of another embodiment of the filter segment 9;

FIG. 4 a detailed view of the hollow cylinder part 12 according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 5 a sectional view of one embodiment of the hollow cylinder part12;

FIG. 6 a schematic view of three different embodiments of the filtersegment 9;

FIG. 7 a detailed view of two embodiments of the filter rod part 15 ofthe filter segment 9;

FIG. 8 a schematic view of four different embodiments of the filtersegment 9.

FIG. 1 shows a general view of the smoking article 1. The smokingarticle 1, as shown in FIG. 1 , is a heat-not-burn product. The smokingarticle 1 comprises a cylindrical shape 2. The cylindrical shape 2comprises two respective base areas 2 a, 2 b which are arrangedperpendicular to a longitudinal axis L. Along the longitudinal axis Land starting at a distal end 1 a of the smoking article, preferablythree segments 3 are arranged subsequently on the longitudinal axis L.The first segment 3 arranged directly at the distal end 1 a of thesmoking article 1 is the tobacco segment 5. Along the longitudinal axisL and next to the tobacco segment 5 a cooling segment 6 is arranged.Between the cooling segment 6 and the mouth end 1 b of the smokingarticle 1, a filter segment 9 is arranged. All segments 3 are preferablywrapped in a wrapper 4. With the wrapper 4, the segments 3 are fixed intheir respective position. It is conceivable that not all segments 3 arewrapped in the wrapper 4 with their complete lengths measured parallelto the longitudinal axis L. It is preferred, that a distal part of thetobacco segment 5 arranged at the distal end 1 a of the smoking article1 is not wrapped in the wrapper 4 and only a part of the tobacco segment5 arranged downstream of the distal part is wrapped in the wrapper.

The tobacco segment 5 comprises smokable material, preferablyreconstituted tobacco. This smokable material is heated by an externalheat source, preferably a heating blade which is inserted into thetobacco segment 5 from the distal end 1 a. The smokable materialcomprises tobacco material and a suitable binder. When the smokablematerial is heated by the external heat source, preferably up to 250°C., the binder evaporates and picks up flavor substances and nicotinefrom the tobacco material comprised in the tobacco segment. Theevaporated binder together with the flavoring material and the nicotineforms an inhalable aerosol. This inhalable aerosol is then guided alonga first flow path 8 through the cooling segment 6. The first flow path 8is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis L. In the cooling segment6, the inhalable aerosol is cooled down to be safe to inhale for theconsumer. When leaving the cooling segment 6, the inhalable aerosol isguided along a second flow path 10 through the filter segment 9 towardsthe mouth end 1 b of the smoking article 1. In the filter segment 9, theinhalable aerosol is filtered to improve the taste of the inhalableaerosol. When reaching the mouth end 1 b of the smoking article 1, theinhalable aerosol is delivered to the consumer.

The filter segment 9 comprises the tobacco product 11. In this way thefilter segment 9 serves two purposes. The first purpose is to filter anyundesired flavor substances from the inhalable aerosol to improve thetaste. The second purpose is to enhance the flavor of the inhalableaerosol via interaction with the tobacco product 11. The filter segment9 comprises two different parts. The first part 12 comprises the shapeof a hollow cylinder and is therefore referred to as the hollow cylinderpart 12. This hollow cylinder part 12 is arranged directly adjacent tothe cooling segment 6. The second part 15 comprises a filter rod and istherefore referred to as the filter rod part 15.

The filter rod part 15 is arranged directly at the mouth end 1 b of thesmoking article 1. Preferably the filter rod part 15 is arranged betweenthe hollow cylinder part 12 and the mouth end 1 b. The tobacco product11 can either be arranged in the hollow cylinder part 12 and/or in thefilter rod part 15. In the shown embodiment of FIG. 1 the tobaccoproduct 11 is arranged in the hollow cylinder part 12. The hollowcylinder part 12 comprises a through-hole 14 having an inner lateralarea 13. The tobacco product 11 is arranged on the inner lateral area 13or at least on a part of the inner lateral area 13. The second flow path10 is arranged in the through-hole 14. Therefore, the inhalable aerosolguided along the second flow path 10 is in direct contact with the innerlateral area 13 comprising the tobacco product 11.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the filter segment 9. In thisembodiment, the tobacco product 11 is arranged in the filter rod part15. In the shown embodiment, the hollow cylinder part 12 does notcomprise the tobacco product 11 but it is very well conceivable tocombine a filter rod part 15 comprising the tobacco product 11 with ahollow cylinder part 12 also comprising the tobacco product 11. In apreferred embodiment, the hollow cylinder part 12 of the embodimentshown in FIG. 1 is combined with the filter rod part 15 of theembodiment shown in FIG. 2 .

The filter rod part 15 comprises the tobacco product 11 in its innervolume. Preferably, the tobacco particles contained in the tobaccoproduct 11 are distributed homogeneously in the inner volume of thefilter rod part 15. In a preferred embodiment, which is here shown inFIG. 2 , the filter rod part 15 comprises a first cylindrically shapedsection 15 a and a second cylindrically shaped section 15 b. The firstcylindrically shaped section 15 a is arranged directly at the hollowcylinder part 12 whereas the second cylindrically shaped section 15 b isarranged between the first cylindrically shaped section 15 a and themouth end 1 b. Preferably both cylindrically shaped sections 15 a, 15 bcomprise the same diameter d. This diameter d is preferably also thediameter of the filter segment.

Preferably only the first cylindrically shaped section 15 a comprisesthe tobacco product 11, whereas the second cylindrically shaped section15 b does not comprise any tobacco product 11. The first cylindricallyshaped section 15 a comprising the tobacco product will have a dark,brownish color due to the tobacco comprised in the tobacco product 11.In contrast to this, the second cylindrically shaped section 15 b, whichdoes not comprise any tobacco product 11, comprises no discoloration.This is advantageous as only the second cylindrically shaped section 15b is visible to the consumer from the mouth end 1 b and in this wayhides the discolored first cylindrically shaped section 15 a from theconsumers view.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the filter segment 9, which is alternativeto the embodiment of the filter section 9 shown in FIG. 2 . In thisembodiment, the tobacco product 11 is arranged in the firstcylindrically shaped section 15 a via threads 16. Each thread 16 iscoated with the tobacco product 11. The thread 16 comprising the tobaccoproduct 11 is then incorporated in the inner volume of the firstcylindrically shaped section 15 a of the filter rod part 15. A secondcylindrically shaped section 15 b comprising no threads 16 is preferablyarranged between the first cylindrically shaped section 15 a and themouth end 1 b. In this way the tobacco colored threads 16 are hiddenfrom the consumer's view. As already described with reference to FIG. 2, it is also for this embodiment possible to use only one cylindricallyshaped section in the filter rod part 15. In this case, the threads 16would be incorporated in the one cylindrically shaped section of thefilter rod part 15. In this embodiment the threads 16 would be visibleto the consumer from the mouth end.

Preferably, the threads 16 are arranged in a center region of thecylindrically shaped section or the first cylindrically shaped section(15 a) of the filter rod part 15. The center region is defined ascylindrically shaped region having the same length as the (first)cylindrically shaped section (15 a) along the longitudinal axis (L) andhaving a diameter equal to or smaller than the diameter of thethrough-hole 14 of the hollow cylinder part 12, wherein the centerregion is arranged concentric in the (first) cylindrically shapedsection (15 a) with regard to the circumference of the (first)cylindrically shaped section (15 a). In this way, the aerosol streamingalong the first and second flow paths (8, 10) and through thethrough-hole 14 of the hollow cylinder part 12 directly hits the threads16 carrying the tobacco product 11.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the hollow cylinder part 12 of thefilter segment 9. FIG. 4 a shows a perspective view of the hollowcylinder part 12 whereas FIG. 4 b shows a sectional view of the hollowcylinder part 12 sectioned along a sectional plane which isperpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. FIG. 4 c shows asectional view of the hollow cylinder part 12 sectioned along asectional plane parallel to the longitudinal direction L. With thesynoptic presentation of FIGS. 4 a, b and c the nature of the hollowcylinder's shape of the hollow cylinder part 12 is imminent. Thethrough-hole 14 of the hollow cylinder part 12 penetrates the hollowcylinder part 12 completely from a first end 12 a of the hollow cylinderpart 12 to a second end 12 b of the hollow cylinder part. The secondflow path 10 is arranged in the through-hole 14. The flow path 10therefore connects the first end 12 a of the hollow cylinder part 12 ina fluidic manner with the second end 12 b. In other words, the hollowcylinder part 12 encloses the second flow path 10 like a tube. The innerlateral area 13 of the hollow cylinder part 12 is at least in partcoated with the tobacco product 11. In this way, any inhalable aerosolmoving along the second flow path 10 will be in direct contact with anytobacco product 11 deposited on at least a part of the inner lateralarea 13.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged portion of the sectional view shown in FIG. 4 b. The inner lateral area 13 of the hollow cylinder part 12 is clearlyvisible. On the inner lateral area 13, the tobacco product 11 isdeposited. In a preferred embodiment, a bonding agent 18 is arrangedbetween the tobacco product 11 and the inner lateral area 13. This meansthat first the bonding agent 18 is deposited on the desired part of theinner lateral area 13 or the whole inner lateral area 13 andsubsequently the tobacco product 11 is deposited on top of the bondingagent 18. The second flow path 10 penetrates the paper plane of FIG. 5 .Any aerosol streaming along the second flow path 10 will be in directcontact with the tobacco product 11. Any inhalable aerosol streamingalong the second flow path 10 will therefore be able to pick up flavorfrom the tobacco product 11 via direct interaction.

FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of the filter rod part 15 according to twodifferent embodiments respectively shown in FIGS. 6 a and 6 b . FIG. 6 ashows the filter rod part 15 similar to the previously describedembodiment of FIG. 2 . In this embodiment the tobacco product 11 ishomogenously distributed in the filter material 17 of the filter rodpart 15. The shown filter rod can either be used as the complete filterrod part 15 or can be used only as the first cylindrically shapedsection 15 a of the filter rod part 15. In the latter case, anotherfilter rod, i.e. the second cylindrically shaped section 15 b, would beadded at one base area of the shown first cylindrically shaped section15 a.

FIG. 6 b shows an embodiment similar to the one shown in FIG. 3 . Theshown filter rod is either the complete filter rod part 15 or only thefirst cylindrically shaped section 15 a. It consists of a filtermaterial 17 in which threads 16, which comprise the tobacco product 11,are embedded. The number of threads 16 embedded in the filter material17 can be chosen regarding the desired taste impact of the tobaccoproduct 11 on the inhalable aerosol.

For both embodiments of FIGS. 6 a and b, the inhalable aerosol willstream through the filter rod part 15 or the first cylindrically shapedsection 15 a along the second flow path 10. The filter material 17 istherefore a porous material, which allows the passage of an aerosol.When streaming through the porous filter material 17, the inhalableaerosol will get in contact with either the homogeneously distributedtobacco product 11 or with the threads 16 comprising the tobaccoproduct. For both embodiments direct interaction between the aerosolstreaming along the second flow path 10 and the tobacco product 11 willbe possible. In this way, the aerosol can pick up flavor from thetobacco product 11.

FIG. 7 shows the three underlying arrangement possibilities for thedifferent parts of the filter segment 9. FIG. 7 a shows the simplestarrangement. In this arrangement the filter segment 9 comprises only ahollow cylinder part 12 and filter rod part 15. In this embodiment, thehollow cylinder part 12 is arranged directly with its first end 12 a atan upstream end 9 a of the filter segment 9. Upstream means in thiscontext that with reference to the second flow path 10 and its flowdirection from the distal end 1 a to the mouth end of the smokingarticle 1, an upstream position is closer to the distal end than areference position. At the second end 12 b of the hollow cylinder part12, the filter rod part 15 is arranged. The filter rod part 15 isarranged directly adjacent to the hollow cylinder part 12. With regardto the second flow path 10, the filter rod part 15 is arrangeddown-stream of the hollow cylinder part 12. The filter rod part 15 istherefore arranged between the mouth end 1 b and the second end 12 b ofthe hollow cylinder part 12.

The overall length l1 of the filter segment 9 measured along thelongitudinal direction l is preferably 20 mm. Preferably, the length l2of the hollow cylinder part 12 measured along the longitudinal directionL is larger than the length l3 of the filter rod part 15 also measuredalong the longitudinal direction L. Preferably, the length l2 is 10 to15 mm, even more preferred 12 mm. Preferably, the length l3 is 5 to 10mm, even more preferred 8 mm. In this embodiment, the tobacco productcan either be arranged in the hollow cylinder part 12 or in the filterrod part 15 or in both of them. In order to attach the hollow cylinderpart 12 and the filter rod part 15 to each other, both parts 12, 15 arepreferably wrapped in a joint plug-wrap 20. The plug wrap 20 is awrapper wrapped circumferentially around the hollow cylinder part 12 andthe filter rod part 15.

FIG. 7 b shows an embodiment in which the filter rod part 15 consists oftwo different cylindrically shaped sections. The filter rod part 15, inthis case, consists of a first cylindrically shaped section 15 a and asecond cylindrically shaped section 15 b. The second cylindricallyshaped section 15 b is arranged directly at the mouth end 1 b of thesmoking article 1, whereas the first cylindrically shaped section 15 ais arranged between the hollow cylinder part 12 and the secondcylindrically shaped section 15 b on the longitudinal axis L. It ispreferred that all three components of the filter segment 9 are wrappedtogether in a plug wrap 20.

The length l1 of the filter segment 9 is preferably 20 mm. The preferredlength L2 of the hollow cylinder part 12 measured along the longitudinalaxis L is preferably 10 to 15 mm, even more preferred 12 mm. Preferablythe length l3 of the filter rod part 15 is 5 to 10 mm, even morepreferred 8 mm. A length l5 of the second cylindrically shaped section15 b measured along the longitudinal axis L is preferably 1 to 2 mm,more preferred 1 mm. The length l4 of the first cylindrically shapedsection 15 a measured along the longitudinal axis L is preferably 4 to 9mm, more preferred 7 mm. In this embodiment, it is preferred that thetobacco product 11 is either arranged only in the first cylindricallyshaped section 15 a or arranged in the first cylindrically shapedsection 15 a and the hollow cylinder part 12.

FIG. 7 c shows a third embodiment of the filter segment 9. In thisembodiment, the length l2 of the hollow cylinder part 12 is reduced.Between the hollow cylinder part 12, more precisely its second end 12 b,and the filter rod part 15, a charcoal filter 19 is arranged. Thecharcoal filter 19 comprises a length l6 measured along the longitudinalaxis L of preferably a 6 to 8 mm, more preferred 7 mm. The length l2,which is in this case reduced, is preferably 5 to 7 mm, more preferred 6mm. The length l3 of the filter rod part 15 is preferably 6 to 8 mm,more preferred 7 mm. The FIG. 7 c shows a filter rod part 15 consistingof a first cylindrically shaped section 15 a and a second cylindricallyshaped section 15 b. It is also conceivable that the charcoal filter iscombined with a filter rod part 15 comprising only one section.

In the depicted embodiment in which the filter rod part 15 comprises afirst and a second cylindrically shaped section 15 a, 15 b, the lengthl4 of the first cylindrically shaped section 15 b is preferably 6 mm andthe length l5 of the second cylindrically shaped section 15 b ispreferably 1 mm. Although it is possible for this embodiment to arrangethe tobacco product 11 in the hollow cylinder part 12, it is preferredto arrange the tobacco product 11 in the filter rod part 15. In thefilter rod part 15, the tobacco product 11 is arranged downstream of thecharcoal filter 19. This arrangement is preferred, as the charcoalfilter 19 is able to remove any harsh flavors from the aerosoltravelling along the second flow path 10. After the harsh flavor hasbeen removed from the aerosol by the charcoal filter 19, the aerosol canthen interact with the tobacco product 11 arranged in the filter rodpart 15 and thereby pick up a more pleasing flavor from the tobaccoparticles. Preferably, all parts of the filter segment 9 i.e. the hollowcylinder part 12, the charcoal filter 19 and the filter rod part 15, arewrapped together in a plug wrap 20. This embodiment comprising thecharcoal filter 19 is preferably combined with the homogenouslydistributed tobacco product in the filter rod part 15 or the firstcylindrically shaped section 15 a shown in FIG. 6 a or combined with thethreads 16 arranged in the filter rod part 15 or the first cylindricallyshaped section 15 a shown in FIG. 6 b.

FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of the method for manufacturing a smokingarticle 1 according to any of the previously described embodiments. In afirst step, the tobacco product 11 is arranged 100 in the filter segment9. This arranging 100 can be done in several ways which will bedescribed in full detail in the following. After the tobacco product 9has been arranged 100 in the filter segment 9 all segments 3, i.e. thetobacco segment 5, the cooling segment 6 and the filter segment 9 arearranged 110 on the longitudinal axis L. This step is followed bywrapping 120 the arranged segments 3 in a wrapper 4. At this point, thesmoking article 1 is finished.

The arranging 100 of the tobacco product 11 in the filter segment 9 canbe carried out in basically three different embodiments of the method.The chosen embodiment depends on the desired arrangement of the tobaccoproduct 11 in the filter segment 9. In a first embodiment of the method,the tobacco product 11 is arranged in the filter segment 9 by coating102 the filter segment 9 with the tobacco product 11. Preferably, thisembodiment of the method is combined with an embodiment of the smokingarticle 1, in which the tobacco product 11 is arranged in the innerlateral area 13 of the hollow cylinder part 12 of the filter segment 9.The coating 102 can either be carried out by coating the inner lateralarea 13 of the hollow cylinder part 12 after the hollow cylinder part 12has been manufactured. In alternative to that it is also possible tocoat a surface of a filter material 17 with the tobacco product 11 andafterwards form the filter material 17 into a hollow cylinder part 12,wherein the coated surface is arranged to be the inner lateral area 13of the hollow cylinder part 12. Before the coating 102 with the tobaccoproduct 11 takes place, it is possible to coat 101, the very samesurface on which the tobacco product 11 is afterwards applied with abonding agent 18.

In alternative or in addition to arranging the tobacco product 11 in thehollow cylinder part 12, the tobacco product 11 can be arranged in thefilter segment 9 by spraying 103 the tobacco product 11 onto the filtermaterial 17 before forming the filter rod part 15 and eventually alsothe hollow cylinder part 12 from the filter material 17. In thisembodiment of the method, it is also conceivable that before the tobaccoproduct 11 is sprayed 103 onto the filter material 17 of the filter rodpart 15, the filter material 17 is coated or pretreated 101 with abonding agent 18. However, the coating 101 with a bonding agent 18 is anoptional step.

In alternative or in addition to the previously described methods toarrange 100, the tobacco product 11 in the filter segment 9, it is alsopossible to arrange 107 threads 16 comprising the tobacco product 11 inthe filter material 17 before the filter segment 9 is formed 104. Beforearranging the threads or also one thread 16, in the filter material 17,the tobacco product 11 is arranged on the thread 16 either by soaking105 the thread 16 with the tobacco product 11 or by spraying 106 thethread 16 with a tobacco product 11. Both alternatives, soaking 105 andspraying 106, may be preceded by coating 101 the thread 16 with abonding agent 18.

All of the described methods to arrange 100 the tobacco product 11 inthe filter segment 9 may be carried out separately or in combination.

After arranging 100 the tobacco product 11 in the filter segment 9, theindividual parts of the filter segment 9, i.e. the hollow cylinder part12, the filter rod part 15, preferably comprising a first and secondcylindrically shaped section 15 a, 15 b, and preferably a charcoalfilter 19, are arranged 108 in the order described in the previousembodiments along the longitudinal axis L. Afterwards the filter partsare preferably wrapped 109 in a plug wrap 20. At this point, the filtersegment 9 is arranged 110 together with the other segments 3sequentially along the longitudinal axis L to be subsequently wrapped120 by the wrapper 4.

The applicant reserves his right to claim all features disclosed in theapplication document is being an essential feature of the invention, aslong as they are new, individually or in combination, in view of theprior art. Furthermore, it is noted that in the figures features aredescribed, which can be advantageous individually. Someone skilled inthe art will directly recognize that a specific feature being disclosedin a figure can be advantageous also without the adoption of furtherfeatures from this figure. Furthermore, someone skilled in the art willrecognize that advantages can evolve from a combination of diversefeatures being disclosed in one or various figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   -   1 Smoking article    -   1 a distal end    -   1 b mouth end    -   2 cylindrical shape    -   2 a, 2 b base areas    -   3 segments    -   4 wrapper    -   5 tobacco segment    -   6 cooling segment    -   8 first flow path    -   9 filter segment    -   9 a upstream end    -   9 b downstream end    -   10 second flow path    -   11 tobacco product    -   12 hollow cylinder part    -   12 a first end    -   12 b second end    -   13 inner lateral area    -   14 through-hole    -   15 filter rod part    -   15 a first cylindrically shaped section    -   15 b second cylindrically shaped section    -   16 thread    -   17 filter material    -   18 bonding agent    -   19 charcoal filter    -   20 plug wrap    -   L longitudinal axis    -   l₁ length of filter segment    -   l₂ length of the hollow cylinder part    -   l₃ length of the filter rod part    -   l₄ length of the first cylindrically shaped section    -   l₅ length of the second cylindrically shaped section    -   l₆ length of the charcoal filter    -   d diameter    -   100 arranging tobacco product in the filter segment    -   101 coating with bonding agent    -   102 coating with tobacco product    -   103 spraying with tobacco product    -   104 forming the filter segment    -   105 soaking the thread with tobacco product    -   106 spraying the thread with tobacco product    -   107 arranging the thread    -   108 arrange filter parts    -   109 wrap in plug wrap    -   110 arranging the segments sequentially    -   120 wrapping the arranged segments

1. A smoking article comprising a cylindrical shape with a longitudinalaxis running through respective base areas of a distal end and a mouthend of the smoking article, wherein the smoking article comprisessegments that are at least in part wrapped in a circumferential wrapper,the segments being arranged in order from the distal end to the mouthend as follows: a. a tobacco segment comprising tobacco or tobaccoderived smokable material, b. a cooling segment having a first flow pathfrom the tobacco segment to a filter segment, c. the filter segmentcomprising a second flow path from the cooling segment to the mouth end,wherein the filter segment comprises a tobacco product comprisingtobacco particles having an average particle size of 30 μm and adispersion medium for dispersing the tobacco particles.
 2. The smokingarticle according to claim 1, wherein at least one part of the filtersegment-comprises a hollow cylinder shape having an inner lateral areaenclosing a through-hole through which the second flow path is arranged,wherein the second flow path is parallel to the longitudinal axis, andwherein the inner lateral area is at least in part coated with thetobacco product.
 3. The smoking article according to claim 2, wherein abonding agent is arranged between the inner lateral area and the tobaccoproduct.
 4. The smoking article according to claim 1, wherein at leastone part of the filter segment is a filter rod having an inner volume,wherein the tobacco product is arranged in the inner volume of thefilter rod.
 5. The smoking article according to claim 4, wherein thetobacco product is uniformly distributed within a first cylindricallyshaped section of the filter rod and the tobacco product has a diameterequal to a diameter of the filter rod.
 6. The smoking article accordingto claim 5, wherein a second cylindrically shaped section of the filterrod not comprising the tobacco product has a diameter equal to thefilter rod, and the second cylindrically shaped section is arrangedbetween the first section and the mouth end of the smoking article. 7.The smoking article according to claim 1, wherein at least one part ofthe filter segment is a filter rod having an inner volume, wherein atleast one thread comprising the tobacco product is arranged in the innervolume of a first cylindrically shaped section of the filter rod, andwherein the first cylindrically shaped section has a diameter equal to adiameter the filter rod.
 8. The smoking article according to claim 7,wherein a second cylindrically shaped section of the filter rod notcomprising the thread and having a diameter equal to the diameter of thefilter rod is arranged between the first section and the mouth end ofthe smoking article.
 9. A method for manufacturing a smoking article,wherein a tobacco segment comprising tobacco or tobacco derived smokablematerial, a cooling segment comprising a first flow path and a filtersegment comprising a second flow path are arranged in order on alongitudinal axis from a distal end to a mouth end of the smokingarticle, and the tobacco segment, the cooling segment, and the filtersegment are at least in part wrapped in a circumferential wrapperthereby forming the smoking article having a cylindrical shape, whereinthe first flow path connects the tobacco segment with the filter segmentand the second flow path connects the cooling segment with the mouthend, wherein before arranging the filter segment next to the coolingsegment a tobacco product comprising tobacco particles having an averageparticle size of 30 μm and a dispersion medium for dispersing thetobacco particles is arranged in the filter segment.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 9, wherein at least one part of the filter segment isa hollow cylinder having an inner lateral area, and wherein the tobaccoproduct is arranged on at least a part of the inner lateral area bycoating.
 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein before coatingthe inner lateral area with the tobacco product, the filter segment isat least in part coated with a bonding agent.
 12. The method accordingto claim 9, wherein the tobacco product is arranged on the filtermaterial of at least a part of the filter segment by spraying, whereinthe filter material is afterwards formed into the filter segment, whichis subsequently arranged next to the cooling segment.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 9, wherein the tobacco product is arranged on athread, wherein the thread is then arranged on the filter material of atleast a part of the filter segment which is afterwards formed into thefilter segment, which is subsequently arranged next to the coolingsegment.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the tobaccoproduct is arranged on the thread by soaking the thread in the liquidtobacco product.
 15. The method according to claim 13, wherein thetobacco product is arranged on the thread by spraying the liquid tobaccoproduct onto the thread.